By Josiah HughesAfter months of imprisonment, a verdict has finally been reached in the case of Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot. The three performance artists, who have been imprisoned in pre-trial detention since March 4, were declared guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.
According to various reports, shouts of "Shame! Shame!" could be heard in the courtroom as the three members, Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samusevich, were found guilty of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred." A number of people were arrested outside of the courtroom for protesting the case.
The debacle dates back to February 21, when Pussy Riot performed a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. In the performance, which lasted less than a minute, they sang the chorus, "Virgin Mary, Become Feminist / Virgin Mary, Hash Putin Away."
Since then, the artists have remained in custody and refused bail. A worldwide protest, including support from Amnesty International, the Beastie Boys, Kathleen Hannah, Björk, Peaches and countless others has continuted throughout the time of their incarceration.
A montage of Pussy Riot's initial protest can be streamed below.
UPDATE: Using various footage of the band and their supporters, the folks at the Guardian have made a new video featuring Pussy Riot's latest single "Putin Lights Up the Fires." You can watch it at the bottom of the page.
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